Renter's Guide to Cary

Cary is a small city in North Carolina that rests in what is known as the Research Triangle, consisting of Raleigh, Durham, and Cary. The city is often referred to as a bedroom community, since many area residents make the short 10-mile commute to Raleigh, or the 20-mile trip to either Chapel Hill or Durham. In fact, Cary has been ranked as one of the best cities for teleworkers, due to its proximity to numerous large employers headquartered-, or with offices in the Triangle.

The city has a small-town feel, despite having a population of over 150,000, and is known for having exceptional school districts and low crime rates. The weather in Cary is typically very pleasant, with a mild spring and fall. The summers do get hot and humid with a fair amount of rain, while the winters are fairly mild, although residents will see some occasional snow and freezing rain.

Cary, NC Demographics

Total Population136,492

Female66,464

Male70,028

Median Age37.27

Cost of Living in Cary, NC

The main benefit of living in Cary is the low cost of living, which is the reason many like to make the commute from Cary to work in the neighboring cities of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

And despite the wide variety of dining options, dinner for two here won’t break the bank, as a typical night out for dinner costs just $40 to $50 on average.

As for public utilities like gas, electricity, and water, those are nearly on par with the costs in Raleigh and the US average with a cost of $140 per month.

Cary, NC Average Rent

Cary, NC Average Rental Price, December, 2016$1,099/mo

Studio$908

1 Bedroom$958

2 Bedrooms$1,136

Cary, NC Apartment Rent Ranges

1%$501-$700

39%$701-$1,000

55%$1,001-$1,500

4%$1,501-$2,000

Cary, NC Rent Trends

All Rentals

Studio

1 Bed

2 Beds

3 Beds

Average Rent

December, 2016

$1,099

$908

$958

$1,136

May / 2016

$1,063

$860

$941

$1,107

Jan / 2016

$999

$896

$905

$1,034

Sept / 2015

$1,019

$885

$898

$1,076

May / 2015

$984

$925

$870

$1,046

Jan / 2015

$942

$901

$837

$970

Sept / 2014

$960

$838

$824

$1,001

May / 2014

$937

$913

$850

$996

Jan / 2014

$903

$874

$805

$946

Sept / 2013

$925

$817

$791

$962

May / 2013

$911

$840

$824

$953

Jan / 2013

$886

$920

$764

$912

/

Average rent is projected to grow by 6% in 2016 compared to 2015.

Please note that projected rent growth is calculated at city level.

Average rent values on this page are aggregated from data from the following zip codes: 27511275132751827519

Living in Cary, NC

One of the major pros of living in Cary is the diversity, as less than 30 percent of the city’s population was actually born in Cary. Also, an astounding 20 percent of Cary residents were born outside of the US, making it a bit of a melting pot of cultures and nationalities.

Cary is also known for being one of the safest cities in the country, as it has been consistently named as one of the safest places in the country. Recently, the FBI actually released crime data that backed up these claims, showing that Cary actually had the lowest crime rate in the US among cities that have a population between 100,000 and 500,000.

While there aren’t many cons to living in Cary, some see the fact that it’s a bedroom community as a negative. But many also see this as a pro, since it allows them to avoid the hustle and bustle of the big cities while raising a family in a safe place with great public education.

Things to do in Cary

There is no shortage of things to do in Cary, and with the city’s large workforce, people here love their coffee. Cary is well known for its locally-owned coffee shops and bakeries where you can get a great cup of joe, like Crema Coffee and Bakery, Fresca Café, Coffee & Crepes, Java Jive, and many more.

Cary also has lots of great dining options, with one of the most popular being Bosphorus, where they serve a variety of Mediterranean dishes, and visitors can even bring in their own bottle of wine to drink with dinner! Or, for some hometown cooking, residents can head to Lucky 32 Southern Kitchen for some fried southern favorites. The city also features several local farmers markets, where visitors can get a taste of some of the best locally-grown fruits and veggies, as well as loads of other homemade treats.

Cary is also known as being a very fit city, coming in ranked as the 15th fittest city in all of the United States, and it’s a great place to run, jog, or hike. It has an astounding 36 greenway trails open from sunrise to sunset, with one of the hottest spots to run being the Stevens Nature Center at the Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve.

The area’s also got some of the most beautiful parks in America, and there’s no shortage of them in Cary either. Overall, there are 29 park areas in Cary, including the popular North Cary Park, as well as the 310-acre Bond Park. Bond Park features several free concerts and events throughout the year, including the Hob Nob Jazz Series, performances by the North Carolina Symphony, as well as summer movie showings. So there truly is a spot here for just about any recreational activity under the sun, whether it’s a summer picnic, scenic afternoon, an evening jog, or a relaxing musical performance.

The avid sports fan will fit right in too, as the city is home to the Cary Tennis Park, as well as the USA Baseball National Training Complex, and has also played host to over 20 NCAA Championship Events and 30 ACC championships. Not to mention that the area is filled with Duke Blue Devils, Wolfpack, and Tar Heels supporters, so sports fans will feel right at home here!

Employment & Economy in Cary, NC

Cary’s population has been growing tremendously over the last several years, largely due to all of the job opportunities available in the Research Triangle. The nearby Research Triangle Park is one of the largest business parks in the entire country, and houses over 200 businesses with nearly 50,000 employees. Many big companies also have their home offices in the park, including both IBM and Cisco Systems, so there’s no shortage of jobs here in the Cary area.

Cary, NC Households

Total Number of Households52,806

Family36,708

Non-family16,098

Children20,623

No Children32,183

Average People Per Household2.58

Median Household Income$91,596

Median Household Disposable Income$64,439

Cary, NC Crime Rate and Statistics

National Average

Below Average

100

Above Average

Total Crime Risk

61

Assault Risk

53

Automotive Theft Risk

34

Property Crime Risk

77

Rape Risk

41

Robbery Risk

29

Education in Cary

Education has always been a high priority in Cary, and the city’s school districts rank among the best in the country. So it’s no surprise that over 60% of Cary residents have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Cary, NC Education Statistics

3%No High School

3%Some HighSchool

18%Some College

9%Associate Degree

40%Bachelor Degree

26%Graduate Degree

Tips for Renting in Cary

Rights for renters in Cary are governed by North Carolina state law, and are very typical of rights of renters throughout the rest of the state and country. However, North Carolina does have its own set of requirements for eviction notice, as long as the notice length is not specifically stated in the lease.

For monthly rentals, the eviction period is 7 days; for a year-to-year rental the minimum eviction notice is 30 days; and for mobile homes the minimum eviction notice is 60 days.

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